Pew Scholars and Fellows Honored for Scientific Research

April was a banner month for Pew biomedical scholars and fellows. Three Pew scholars were elected into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a record seven Pew scholars and one national adviser to the Pew Latin American Fellows Program were inducted into the National Academy of Sciences.

Both organizations honor distinguished leaders in a range of disciplines. Pew scholars were recognized for their ambitious, diligent approaches in the lab—tackling some of the most fundamental questions about life science and human health. These honors celebrate the scholars’ contributions to the fields of biological and biomedical science, which were bolstered by support from The Pew Charitable Trusts. For 30 years, Pew has provided unfettered support to a selection of early-career researchers.

Young researchers often find it difficult to acquire funding. The budget for the National Institutes of Health remains flat, and the majority of available federal grants go to established scientists. As a result, researchers in their creative prime often lack the financial means to undertake innovative research.

A report released in April by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology highlights the problem, stating that while there is no "immediate payoff" to inventive, foundational research of young scientists, it often leads to powerful discoveries.

Pew’s biomedical programs fill a void in the research landscape by providing early-career scientists the means to pursue untested leads and experiments. These 10 researchers represent the payoff from that investment.

Pew will announce a new class of 37 scholars and fellows in June. They will surely continue the Pew scholars’ tradition of dedication to advancing human health.

Newly elected members of the National Academy of Sciences:

• 1996 Pew scholar David D. Ginty
• 1990 Pew scholar Stewart H. Shuman
• 1987 Pew scholar Michael P. Snyder

Newly elected members of the National Academy of Sciences:

• 1990 Pew scholar Brenda L. Bass
• 2003 Pew scholar Christine Jacobs-Wagner
• 1992 Pew scholar Maria Jasin
• 1999 Pew scholar Jeannie T. Lee
• 1992 Pew scholar Jeff F. Miller
• 2000 Pew scholar Hao Wu
• 1989 Pew scholar and Pew fellows national adviser Nancy Carrasco
• Pew fellows national adviser Eva Nogales

Learn more about Pew programs supporting early-career researchers.